Improvement in letter-boxes



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEroE.

i JOHN H. WILLIAMS, OFGREAT BEND, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN LETTER-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 56,246, dated October 27, 1874 application tiled u March 19, 1874.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J oHN H. WInLrAMs, of Great Bend, inthe county ot' Susquehanna and State of Pennsylvania, have i vented a new and Improved Letter-Box, of which the following is a specification:

This invention consists in an improved letter-box, so constructed-that it may serve as a safe depository for cards, notes,`letters, &c., which can be put in from the out-side, but which cannot be taken out without access to the inside of the door, or other suitable place, to which it is attached. i

Figure 1 is an outside-'view Fig. 2, a rear view; Fig. 3, a top View; Fig. 4, a section through the line x y in Fig. 1; Figs. 5, 6, and 7, different views of the sliding cover,

The outer frame A is made of sufficient depth to hold the letters, cards, 8vo., that may be deposited therein, and to contain a plate, upon which the naine of the occupant of the house may be inscribed. B is the inner frame, itting into the outer frame A, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4; and the holes h IL in the middle cross-piece are for the screws, with which the whole box is to be attached to the door D. The projections b b upon the inner frame are grooved for the ends of the plate P, which may be taken out and put in when the cap or slide S is removed. The plate Pis made of thin sheet metal, and is to bear the name of the occupant ot' the house. This may be readily changed whenever it is desired to have another naine upon the door. The slot s is to enable the plate to be more easily raised. A glass plate inay be placed in front of the plate to protect the saine. The box is securely covered by the `slide S, which contains a slot, through which letters, 8vo., may be dropped, and a hinged cap, o, by which the slot is covered after the deposit is made. The slide S is held in place by the top of the inner frame B and projections m m upon the outer frame A, and is secured by the key k, which passes through the door D from the inside, and enters the notch n in the edge of the slide. A small projection, a, upon the end of the slide prevents it from being drawn entirely out. A sinall spring upon the inside of the door keeps the key in place.

To open the box and remove the contents, the key lc is withdrawn, the slide S shoved to one side, and the glass and plate I? raised from the box.

What I claim as my invention is- The letter-box, consisting of the outer frame A, inner frame B, sliding cover S, and the plate P, the whole constructed and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

- J OHN H. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

SEYMOUR ELDEIDGE, JOSEPH DU Bois. 

